ATV USE ON THE CHEQUAMEGON-NICOLET NATIONAL FOREST

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Why is this happening? What's different from the old ATV policy?

A: The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest was combined into one forest in 1998. Each forest had very different ATV policies at that time:

In 2004, the Forest revised its forest management plan. The revised plan contains a consistent ATV policy for both sides of the Forest:
- No off-road or off trail use allowed (implemented on June 14, 2004).
- New trail construction allowed for up to 100 miles of trail on the Chequamegon side, and up to 85 total miles on the Nicolet side.
- All roads and trails closed to ATV use unless posted open with signs.
- All trails and Forest Service roads will be closed to ATV's every year from March 15 through April 30. Township designated roads are still open.
- No Intensive Use ("play areas") allowed on the Forest (Open 26 play area closed on June 14, 2004).
- Emergency closures can be issued locally where resources are being damaged or abused, or there are safety concerns.

Q: When will all the signs be posted? What do they look like?

A: On the Chequamegon side of the Forest, all signs on roads and trails open to ATV use will be posted by May 1, 2006. Generally, the signs will be placed in the ditch to the right of the main intersection. These signs are 4 to 5 feet above the ground. The ATV symbol is an 8 inch by 8 inch brown plastic sign. The Forest Road number appears above the ATV symbol.

At the present time, there are no Forest Service designated trails or roads on the Nicolet side of the forest. We have started to develop an implementation process for opening trails and roads to ATV use.

return to top

Q: What is an emergency closure and why is it used?

A: An emergency closure, usually called a "Forest Supervisor Closure Order", is issued when a specific area is experiencing severe damage and/or threatening the health of the natural resources. It can also be issued if there is a threat to human safety. The Closure Order allows the District Ranger to take quick action to protect resources and the public without conducting lengthy analysis first. The Forest makes every effort to notify the public when an order has been issued. Signs warning of the closure are also posted in the area.

Most closures are temporary, giving the District Ranger time to conduct the proper environmental analysis to determine the extent of damages and the types of activities that may be needed to rehabilitate the site. The analysis may also determine if and when the area can be opened for use again. The public would be involved in any future decisions to open or close.

Q: How do I tell where I can legally drive my ATV on Forest Service roads?

A: All Forest Service roads open to ATV use will be posted with signs as described above. Also, maps containing information on areas open to ATV use can also be obtained at Ranger District Offices.

Q: How can I tell if I'm riding my ATV on an open township road?

The State of Wisconsin requires all townships to post any roads that are open to ATV use. These signs are usually green, but can vary by township. It is the user's responsibility to contact the townships to determine which roads are open and what types of signs are used.

return to top

Q: Is there a map available? What's on it? Where can I get one?
A: On-line Maps:

Great Divide District
Washburn District
Medford-Park Falls - Medford land base
Medford-Park Falls - Park Falls land base

Black and white maps are available for Great Divide District (Glidden-Hayward areas), and the Washburn District (Washburn area). There are separate land base maps for the Medford area and the Park Falls area. All maps are available at each Ranger District office. They range in size from 22 by 28 inches to 34 by 36 inches. The maps display cities; U.S., State and County Highways; Town gas tax roads Forest roads open to ATV use; Forest trails open to ATV use; county boundaries; township names and boundaries; forest boundaries; rivers; lakes; National Forest ownership; other ownership; non-motorized areas and Wilderness areas. Smaller versions of the maps will be on the Chequamegon-Nicolet's web site. NOTE: The map does not display township roads open to ATV use. It is the responsibility of the users to contact townships for information regarding ATV use on these roads.

return to top

Q: What about future ATV opportunities on the forest? Will other areas be closed? Will new ones be open? How can I become involved?

A: Decisions to open new ATV areas or close existing ones will be based on public input, resource protection, maintenance requirements, and an overall transportation analysis of the area showing both administrative and public needs for specific roads. The public will be contacted at the onset of these projects and throughout the process as we begin identifying specific changes to the current status of roads on the forest. Anyone interested in becoming involved in this process should contact the local district office and request to be placed on the mailing list to receive information on upcoming projects.

Q: Who can I contact for more information?

Forest-wide information (not area specific)
Phil Barker, Recreation Program Manager - 715-362-1373 (pbarker01@fs.fed.us)
District information (area specific)
Medford-Park Falls area: Jake Lubera, Assistant Ranger, Recreation - 715-762-2461
Great Divide (Glidden-Hayward area): Jim Hong, Assistant Ranger, Recreation - 715-634-4821, ext. 326 (jhong@fs.fed.us)
Washburn area: Teresa Maday, Assistant Ranger, Recreation - 715-373-2667, ext. 247 (tmaday@fs.fed.us)

For information on designated ATV trail systems, visit our Trails and Tours Page.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources administers ATV registration, safety courses, and other information.  The site also includes descriptions of state-designated ATV trails by county.

Remember, TREAD LIGHTLY while you're out there!!!